ID :
64558
Sun, 06/07/2009 - 09:32
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https://oananews.org//node/64558
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S. Korea first Asian team to make 7th straight appearance at World Cup
SEOUL, June 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has become the first Asian country to make seven straight appearances at the FIFA World Cup with its 2-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the national football association said Sunday.
The team, led by coach Huh Jung-moo, qualified for a berth in the upcoming 2010
FIFA World Cup regardless of the outcome of its two remaining games in the
qualifying round, with goals by Park Chu-Young and Ki Sung-Yueng, the Korea
Football Association (KFA) said.
South Korea has been a fixture at the World Cup, held every four years since the
1986 Mexican games. Counting the 1954 games held in Switzerland, the team has
made a total of eight appearances at the premier football tournament.
Japan, another Asian powerhouse, has reached the main tournament four consecutive
times along with Saudi Arabia.
The Korean side is the only Asian team to have made the semifinals with its
surprise performance at the World Cup in 2002 that was hosted jointly by South
Korea and Japan.
The KFA said Huh's team, captained by Manchester United Park Ji-sung, was eager
to secure the decisive victory against its weaker opponent.
South Korea places 46th in FIFA ranking, while the UAE stands at 122nd. Of the 16
games played between the two national teams, South Korea has won nine, tied five
and lost only two, although the UAE put up stiff resistance in their latest
encounter in front of a home crowd disappointed their team will not play in South
Africa next year.
Park Chu-Young put his team up by one five minutes after the starting whistle
when he scored by tapping in a pass from teammate Lee Chung-Youg.
The South Koreans doubled their lead 32 minutes later when the UAE goalie
deflected a shot into the path of Ki Sung-Yueng, who connected to score the last
goal of the game.
In the second half mid-fielder Kim Jung-woo received a red card for illegal play
although the host country failed to capitalize on the opportunity with good saves
by veteran goalie Lee Woon-jae.
The KFA, meanwhile, said that Japan and Australia secured berths for the 2010
World Cup with games against Uzbekistan and Qatar.
Japan won 1-0 against the Central Asian side, while Australia tied with its
opponent but finished first among its group on a superior goal differential
compared to Japan.
The team, led by coach Huh Jung-moo, qualified for a berth in the upcoming 2010
FIFA World Cup regardless of the outcome of its two remaining games in the
qualifying round, with goals by Park Chu-Young and Ki Sung-Yueng, the Korea
Football Association (KFA) said.
South Korea has been a fixture at the World Cup, held every four years since the
1986 Mexican games. Counting the 1954 games held in Switzerland, the team has
made a total of eight appearances at the premier football tournament.
Japan, another Asian powerhouse, has reached the main tournament four consecutive
times along with Saudi Arabia.
The Korean side is the only Asian team to have made the semifinals with its
surprise performance at the World Cup in 2002 that was hosted jointly by South
Korea and Japan.
The KFA said Huh's team, captained by Manchester United Park Ji-sung, was eager
to secure the decisive victory against its weaker opponent.
South Korea places 46th in FIFA ranking, while the UAE stands at 122nd. Of the 16
games played between the two national teams, South Korea has won nine, tied five
and lost only two, although the UAE put up stiff resistance in their latest
encounter in front of a home crowd disappointed their team will not play in South
Africa next year.
Park Chu-Young put his team up by one five minutes after the starting whistle
when he scored by tapping in a pass from teammate Lee Chung-Youg.
The South Koreans doubled their lead 32 minutes later when the UAE goalie
deflected a shot into the path of Ki Sung-Yueng, who connected to score the last
goal of the game.
In the second half mid-fielder Kim Jung-woo received a red card for illegal play
although the host country failed to capitalize on the opportunity with good saves
by veteran goalie Lee Woon-jae.
The KFA, meanwhile, said that Japan and Australia secured berths for the 2010
World Cup with games against Uzbekistan and Qatar.
Japan won 1-0 against the Central Asian side, while Australia tied with its
opponent but finished first among its group on a superior goal differential
compared to Japan.
